Aubrey A. Hardy, Author at A Bear's Life: Student Stories

Hello Missouri State! Last week I introduced myself and shared a little about myself and mentioned that I am a sophomore at Missouri State University. It’s crazy to think second block classes have begun and that the end of the first semester is quickly approaching. While I’ve only had two full semesters here on campus I’ve still found that each semester looks different for everyone. Through conversations with peers my age and older than me, I have found that I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed by constant change.

Personal Experience

Going into college I knew that courses were only offered by semester, unlike high school where your core content remained the same throughout the year. After joining a sorority I knew that I would be living in the house my sophomore year but was unsure what housing and roommates would look like for the remaining two years. I did not anticipate how much my community would change and how much that would affect my mental health. When I enrolled for the fall semester I was excited about all the classes I would be taking. When I signed the contract to live in the sorority house I was eager to get to know my member class on a more intimate level. But when both of these things took action I found that my community looked completely different than it had in the previous year. I no longer lived with two or three roommates from my freshman year, I didn’t see the same people in my classes anymore, and because I spent so much time in the sorority house I wasn’t seeing friends outside of that organization. I noticed the change because it was negatively impacting my mood to not see people I loved every day or even once a week. Once I was aware of the problem I knew it was time to make a change.

Action Plan

The first obstacle I had to overcome when planning to see last year’s community was making room in my schedule for it. I realized I had to start saying no so I could say yes to things I valued as more important. For example, I said no to study time at the sorority house so I could say yes to studying on campus with my study group from last year. This was an easy swap because I hadn’t been able to focus in the house and had been missing that group of friends. Then it came time for harder decisions of what I deemed more important or valuable with my time. After conversations with some mentors of mine, we concluded that my desire to see my community from last year outweighed my desire to commit to other things. If I could create an action plan for someone else struggling with constant change from semester to semester it would be broken down into three steps.

1. Personal reflection

If you notice your mental, physical, or emotional health is being affected, take time to reflect on what it is that could be causing it. This might look like going on a walk, journaling, or calling someone who knows you well.

2. Conversation with an older peer

Older peers who have experienced the change from semester to semester in college have great advice and stories to share. Talking it out with someone who makes you feel less alone and seen helps calm any anxiety you may be feeling.

3. Making a change

Now it’s time to tackle those fears or negative emotions you may have towards change. For some this could be making room in your schedule for things you miss from previous semesters, calling loved ones to let them in on how you’re doing or embracing the change alongside peers who are doing the same.

Takeaways

Change is hard and college brings on a whole lot of it. Knowing how to handle it when it’s all known to you can be daunting so my biggest advice is to bring others into it. I have a mentor that I always go to seeking advice and sometimes just someone to listen and it made a world of difference having her by my side. Peer mentors can also help with finding your place at MSU; you can request to meet with a peer mentor through our Student Academic Assistance page. I hope this information helps anyone facing the reality of the constant change in college.

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts

~Aubrey

(Bio: My name is Aubrey Hardy, a sophomore studying special needs education. Fun fact: I grew up on a farm.)

Hello Missouri State! My name is Aubrey, and I’m a new Peer Mentor in the CAST office. I’m excited to share my experiences and thoughts throughout the semester! For this week’s post, I wanted to start off by introducing myself.

Who are you?

I am a sophomore from Joplin, Missouri majoring in special needs education. I’m thinking about declaring a minor although this is a thought I need to spend more time on. I absolutely love my major and I’m finally in classes related to it! I’m also involved in several organizations on campus, including Alpha Sigma Alpha, Bear Power, Peer Leading, and Unified Sports.

Why did you choose MSU?

When I toured Missouri State University as a senior I fell in love with the environment on campus. It was my first college tour so I was nervous that I would feel the same way everywhere I toured. When I visited every campus on my list my decision was easy because Missouri State stood out among the rest. I felt included and welcomed my first time on campus and have found that statement to be true since that day.

What is your favorite study spot?

My freshman year was trial and error discovering what spot on campus worked best for me. What I have come to find out is that I study better in different locations for different classes. I love the PSU because it’s a central location on campus and it has dining options if I happen to need a pick-me-up. For my stressful classes, I try to find a study spot outside like the Glass Hall balcony or out by the fountains. I also find it fun to try new locations when I am losing motivation and that is how I discovered the Pummill study location.

What was one thing you worried about before you started at MSU? How did you deal with it once you were here?

I was worried I was going to never want to leave. I know that sounds awful but I was truly so excited to get started at Missouri State that I feared I would never want to go home. While this made my transition easy it also created issues when breaks would approach. I eventually learned how grateful I was to be in a position where I loved my university and community so much that it was hard to leave instead of complaining that I had to leave. With this changed mindset, I was able to enjoy time with family and appreciate my Springfield community all the more when I returned. I do still struggle with the idea of leaving for long breaks but short breaks have now become an enjoyable “time off” for me.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me! I look forward to writing more blogs and sharing more of my struggles and victories. Until next time, Bear Up!